EU opens formal investigation into X over Grok-generated sexual deepfakes
European regulators launched a formal probe into X, focusing on whether the platform met its Digital Services Act obligations after Grok generated nonconsensual sexual deepfakes and other illegal content risks.
The European Union on Monday, January 26, 2026, opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X, focusing on harms linked to its AI chatbot Grok and the spread of sexually explicit manipulated images.
The Associated Press reported that the probe centers on whether X has complied with the bloc’s Digital Services Act, which requires major platforms to assess and reduce systemic risks, including the proliferation of illegal content. Regulators cited concerns about Grok generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfake imagery, including material that may involve children.
The Commission said the investigation complements and extends an earlier DSA investigation into X and will examine the company’s risk assessment, mitigation steps, and platform systems. EU officials indicated they will evaluate whether X properly anticipated and reduced the risks created by the deployment and integration of Grok features on the platform.
X has said it has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation and nonconsensual nudity, and the EU probe could lead to requirements for remedial changes as well as significant penalties if regulators determine the company failed to meet its obligations under the DSA.
The case highlights the growing regulatory focus on generative AI tools embedded in large social networks, where image generation and public distribution can rapidly amplify abuse at scale, especially when safeguards lag behind usage patterns.